Doug Gimesy (text) and Heather Kiley (illustrator), Life Upside Down: Australia’s Grey-headed Flying-foxes, Australian Geographic, October 2020, 48 pp., RRP $19.95 (hbk), ISBN 9781922388001
This is a beautiful collection of spectacular photographs of these gorgeous animals. Each lovely page is accompanied by brief facts about them. For instance, on the first page there is a flying fox hanging upside down on a branch and we are told their scientific name, that they are mammals and only found in Australia. The story proceeds through their habits and concludes with suggestions for their protection and care.
The aim of the book is to alert readers to the vulnerability of the fruit bat and their beauty. I hope it achieves the former, because it certainly achieves the latter – they are quite arresting pictures.
Reviewed by Stella Lees
